Treasures

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.  Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways: we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.  On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.  For God, who said "Let light shine out of darkness." made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed: perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.  So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."  With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.  All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians Chapter 4

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  Romans 3:23-24 

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, first I would like to pray for those who are unbelievers and whose minds have been blinded so that they cannot see the gospel of the glory of Christ.  I pray for their salvation and I ask You Father to remove the blinders so that they may see.  I pray that You will touch their hearts so that they will be free in You, Jesus and not live in frustration or despair.  With thanksgiving I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

The Sower

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.  The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said, "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.  Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."  Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.  He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.  But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
"they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven."
Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?  The farmer sows the word.  Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown.  As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."  Mark 4:1-20 NIV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that we will have the kind of faith that is rooted in good soil.  I pray that we will produce a good crop and that weeds will not grow in our crop.  Please protect those who read this devotional and I pray for Your wisdom and favor on us.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Happy New Year!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:  Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7 NIV 

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, as we enter a new year I pray for your wisdom and favor on us.  Please protect us from evil and give us your calming peace when we feel anxious.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Christmas The Beginning

Isaiah 9:6-7, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." NIV

Matthew 1:18-24, "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeard to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. 
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  Be he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus." NIV

Isaiah 53, "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised , and we esteemed him not.  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  By oppression and judgment, he was taken away.  And who can speak of his descendants?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.  He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.  After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For he bore the sin of many, and he made intercession for the transgressors." NIV

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

www.karenejklein.com

Prayers for Your Children

Do you know the cure for worry? It is having faith in Jesus and prayer.  I am always worrying about my son.  His health, his safety and so on.  When John was around the age of 12 he went to a Christian middle school.  There was a group of moms that would meet once a week called "Mom's In Touch".  We would pray together for our children using a Bible verse.  It was really great to pray the Scriptures over our children.  I came away from that group with a really nice friend named Lisa, who I still pray with over the phone to this day. When you read a Bible verse and pray just insert the name of your son or daughter in the blank space. Here are some of the Bible verses that I still pray over my son today:
 
Psalm 1:1, "Bless and keep_____, so the he will not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."

Psalm 37:40, "When _____is set upon by bullies or assaulted by other wickedness, please help him and deliver him.  Deliver him from the wicked and save him, because he takes refuge in you."

Psalm 121:3-8, "Watch over______life.  Do not slumber or sleep, but keep him from all harm.  Watch over his life, his coming and going, both now and forevermore."

Job 1:10, "Put a hedge of protection and blessing around______and everything he has."

Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:28, "You know our needs even before we ask you, Lord, and you promise to work in all things for the good of those who love you.  Handpick each one of_______teachers, and surround him with classmates of your choosing."

Ephesians 5:15-17, "Let________be careful and wise in how he lives, making the most of every opportunity and understanding your will for his life."

Proverbs 19:21, "No matter what________is planning in his heart, let your purpose prevail in his life."

1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4, "Thank you that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what you have prepared for_________because he loves you.  Cause him to be willing to wait on you, and act on his behalf."

John 3:16, "Thank you for loving_______so much that you gave your one and only Son, that when _____believes in him he will not perish but have eternal life."

Colossians 2:6-7, "I pray that_______would continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as he was taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Titus 2:6-8, "Help_____to be self-controlled.  Let him show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose the gospel may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about him."

2 Timothy 1:7, "Do not give_______a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

So when you pray the Bible verse or verses over your child know that the Lord hears your prayers.  Do this everyday when you have a quiet moment. You will find that the worry that seems to come with being a mother lessens and is replaced with faith in the Lord above to care for your child.

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for all the mother's out there who worry about their children.  I pray that You would comfort them and take their worry away.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Angels

Hebrews 1:14, "The angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation."

Matthew 18:10, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no worder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.  Their end will be what their actions deserve."

Revelation 12:7-9, "And there was war in heaven.  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for all those who have prayed for You Lord Jesus to come into their hearts.  I pray Your protection will be over them.  I bind Satan's power in Jesus' name for Satan is not welcome here, and I say to leave and not bother us anymore, in Jesus' name.  I pray on this halloween night that Jesus will be with us protecting us all and that fear will leave. I pray for those who are deceived that You Lord Jesus will visit them in a dream, I pray they will listen to Jesus and that the spiritual blindness will fall from their eyes, and then they will see the truth.  I pray Lord that those who are deceived will see the truth that only comes from You, Christ Jesus.  I pray this through Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Real Jesus?

Matthew 24:4-5, "Jesus answered, Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ and will deceive many.'"

Matthew 24-23-25, Jesus says, "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.  See I have told you ahead of time."

Galations 1:6-9, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all.  Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again:  If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"

Above there are two paintings of Jesus.  They both look like Jesus.  They both call themselves Jesus. One is real, one is false.  Do you know how to tell the difference?  The Bible warns us of false Christs.  The first place to know if you have the real Jesus is to read the Bible.  This is the ONLY place you will find the real Jesus.  Many people I know do not think the Bible is the inerrant Word of God so they only take the words in the Bible with a grain of salt.  That just breaks my heart because they are so deceived and are following the words of people instead of the Word of God.  Words have meanings and when someone preaches a "different gospel" many times they will use the same words that are in the Bible.  They will twist the meanings and so they may sound Christian, but in fact are far from it. For example: In Mormonism they use the words Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  As a born again Christian I hear those words and think, one God, three persons in one God, the Trinity.  One way to explain the Trinity is: You are only one person, yet you consist of a body, a spirit, and a soul, but you are still only one person.  When the Mormon uses the words Father, Son and Holy Spirit they are saying they are three seperate gods, one in thought and purpose.  So the Mormons are preaching a false gospel by using Christian words, but they have changed the meanings. So if anyone tells you that you will be a "god" or they talk of a "Christ Consciousness" and say that Jesus was just a master teacher and a loving, powerful man who walked the earth you are following a false gospel.  The human race is not divine, we are sinners in need of a Savior.  The real Savior who loves you even while you trash His words and trash what He has done for you and me.  So, in conclusion, if someone comes knocking at your door claiming they have Jesus, ask them who they believe Jesus is?  If it doesn't match up with the Jesus in the Bible then you DO NOT have Jesus or His message of grace and salvation. 

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus I ask for Your wisdom and favor.  I pray that Your Word will reach those lost in a false gospel.  I pray that the blanket of deceit will be removed from their eyes and they will see the truth found only in the Bible.  I speak this out loud and I bind this spirit of confusion in the name of Jesus and I say go away for you are not welcome here.  I pray for the salvation of those reading this blog who are not saved.  I pray for those in countries where it is hard to be a Christian and I ask for Your favor and protection on them.  Please Lord keep us all safe and healthy. In Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com